HBO Max UK Launch – London Eye Drone Show

A show of this scale and ambition needed a stable, purpose-built launch platform on the river itself. Our flat-top pontoon P2 was chosen for the job, with her deck being modified to create a dedicated launch surface before being loaded in the Royal Docks with the shipping container units used to house the drone fleet.

Once ready, P2 was moved into position at Campions mooring, just along from the London Eye. This was close enough to give the drones the precision needed to perfectly frame the wheel’s iconic ‘O’ as part of the eight-minute display, which took 286 hours to programme.

But getting to this point successfully took much more than just a good mooring spot. Precision on this scale, right beside one of London’s busiest visitor attractions, relied on extensive negotiation with the Port of London Authority to secure the permissions and river access needed, and pinpoint marine coordination to keep the operation safe throughout.

A full test night ahead of the show allowed for extensive flight testing under real river conditions, with safety built into every stage of the RAMS. This included a safety boat – Thames Bosun – stationed upriver, PLA monitoring downriver, and a dedicated recovery boat on standby to retrieve any drones should they have come down in the water.

The drones themselves were supplied using proprietary technology developed and patented by SKYMAGIC, the only system currently capable of launching drone fleets from steel barges.

The stunning result was a genuine first on the Thames: 500 drones lifting from a barge, culminating in the London Eye itself becoming part of the display. The show was a standout success on the night and went on to attract significant press and public attention, cementing it as a landmark moment for drone-based activations on the river.

Ed Livett, Managing Director of Livett’s, said: “We’ve helped launch countless drones from the river before, but nothing on this scale, and interacting directly with the London Eye added a whole new layer of precision to the planning. Getting the PLA comfortable with what was proposed, and building a launch platform capable of doing it safely, was the real challenge behind the scenes.

“Livett’s have been pioneers of drone operations on the Thames for years, and this was the next step up for what’s achievable on the river. Seeing the drone show frame the Eye perfectly on the night made all the planning worthwhile. We loved the challenge this project brought, and as the leading experts in this space, we’re already looking forward to the next drone project on the Thames – this won’t be the last time we push what’s possible on the river.”